Volume 10 - Chapter 4 – Side Story 14: Lithia up to Now (1/2)
10-04 Side Story 14: Lithia up to Now
Lithia Fahlheit was a new noble.
Her father Nicholas Fahlheit had been a leader of the soldiers of Cline Kingdom and had been bestowed with the title of Ritter due to his achievements during a border dispute.
His eldest daughter Lithia too was doing her best at being a squire.
“Next, Fahlheit!”
“Yes ma’am!”
The female squires were being trained. Right now the training was mock battles with the instructor using wooden swords.
Royalty and high-ranking nobles calling for female guards or knights wasn’t uncommon.
Even here in Cline Kingdom in the past few years the number of female knights had risen.
The instructor doing the training was the vice-captain of the female Imperial Guard knight squad. Her name was Gloria Ohlstat
Her short and bright brown hair coupled with her reddish brown eyes gave a lively impression of her.
Many of the female knights were low-ranking nobles or children of knights. Gloria was from a household that had produced a great number of knights for generations.
Among them Lithia who had a father who was a new noble was slightly out of place.
“That girl’s keeping at it, huh.”
“Well, since her family are new nobles, if she doesn’t work hard then it’ll end with her generation.”
Half of the colleagues who were watching her train were children of nobles. Due to their status they wouldn’t be troubled even if they couldn’t become knights.
“I wish I’d get disqualified and could marry soon.”
There was even someone who didn’t hesitate to say that.
In comparison, the people born to knight households were different.
“There’s no way I who was born to a house that’s had generations upon generations of knights can lose to a rookie like that.”
“Just look at her posture. It doesn’t even resemble like a proper one. There’s not an ounce of elegance in it.”
Whether or not Lithia knew about the ridicule, she kept on facing the instructor no matter how many times her wooden sword was repelled. And in the end.
“Eek!”
Her sword was forcefully sent flying and the training came to an end.
“T-thank you very much.”
Lithia thanked the instructor while agonizingly heaving for air,.
“Alright, that’s everyone, correct? Next is swinging against straw posts. Whoever’s on duty, prepare them.”
“Yes.”
Bundles of straw attached to poles in the ground were set up. The training wos to cut them using swords.
“Listen, when cutting with a sword take the trajectory in consideration. You must have the edge perpendicular to the thing you’re cutting. If you don’t do that then the sword won’t cut and it might bounce off, bend, or even break.”
The instructor explained.
This was very different from iaido practiced with Japanese swords. In iaido a 45 degree angle cut in often. This was against a straw post made out of a tatami rolled up tight, which was exceedingly hard to cut through.
However, as the practice assigned to Lithia’s group was just for learning the trajectory of the blade and the feel of the increased cutting power, the toughness of the straw posts was very low.
“First, I’ll show you.”
Female knights used what were basically short swords. The instructor unsheathed the short sword hanging from her waist.
“Hyah!”
Along with her shout, the short sword flashed horizontally in a straight line. The straw post was cleanly cut in two. Gasps came out of the squires watching.
“Instructor Ohlstat is fantastic.”
Murmurs like that were heard too.
“Alright, give it a try. Cutting straight horizontally is difficult. Anderson, you’re first.”
“Yes ma’am! Take this!”
“That’s no good. Your trajectory isn’t straight. Hundred practice swings. Next, Bogard.”
“Yes. …Yahh.”
“What are you doing! If you don’t put any force in it, there’s no way you can swing in a straight line! Three hundred practice swings! Next, Carter!”
“Yes! Yaah!”
This time the straw post was cut cleanly.
“Alright, that’s adequate. Next…”
Like this all 33 of the squires kept attempting to cut the straw post one after another. People who couldn’t cut it were given an appropriate amount of practice swings.
Finally it was Lithia’s turn.
“Finally, Fahlheit. Alright, do it.”
“Yes. …Take this!”
Lithia cleanly bisected the straw post.
“Mh-hm, alright. …Hmm? Fahlheit, let me take a look at your sword.”
“Y-yes.”
Despite being flustered by the instructor suddenly asking to see her sword, Lithia handed it over.